In our weekly series, the Mirror's Chief Football Writer John Cross gives his England player ratings as young stars and one Premier League captain give Thomas Tuchel much to ponder
Rio Ngumoha and Max Dowman are both teenage sensations - could either be a World Cup wildcard pick?
Rio Ngumoha and Max Dowman are both teenage sensations - could either be a World Cup wildcard pick?
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Rio Ngumoha proved just what a special talent he is at Anfield.
The Liverpool forward, 17, scored a wonderful goal, has incredibly quick feet and is clearly destined for the very top.
Equally, Arsenal whizkid Max Dowman, 16, has got people within the game raving about him as a generational talent who has the potential to become among the best in the world. But they are so young and so it begs the question over whether Thomas Tuchel should roll the dice and take one of them to the World Cup this summer.
England boss Tuchel says he is leaving the door open for Dowman on the basis of why close it when he could make a difference this summer and you do not have to decide now. But here’s something into the mix… Tuchel was hired to win the World Cup and given an 18 month contract to deliver the biggest trophy so he did not need to think about the future or leaving a legacy.
However, the Football Association gave him a new contract to take him until 2028 and now he does have to think beyond this summer. Suddenly Tuchel has to worry about the next Euros, if taking either Dowman or Ngumoha will have a longer term impact on their development rather than just take them and be done with it.
Both of them have the ability to be game-changers from the bench while the argument is probably whether going to the World Cup - maybe getting only five minutes or even none - is worth it.
Let’s see. Dowman probably needs two more bits of magic - the sort of magic he produced as a substitute against Everton - to get the conversation going again. Ngumoha looked pretty irresistible when he scored that goal against Fulham.
But as it stands, neither probably go - and maybe that is because Tuchel does not just have to think about the here and now.
Meanwhile, there has been a long-running battle over the place on the right hand side. Bukayo Saka is in pole position - if he regains fitness of course - but then it is between Noni Madueke and Jarrod Bowen.
Madueke has been ahead up until recently and still produces good displays as he did against Sporting Lisbon. But then he was pretty poor against Bournemouth. Then Bowen has been sensational for West Ham in their battle against relegation. Bowen has produced five assists in last five Premier League games and a sensational performance against Wolves on Friday night.
Bowen also has nine goal involvements in his last ten Premier League games. His father-in-law Danny Dyer - dad to his wife Dani - has been banging the drum from the stands.
This is shaping up to be a bit of a showbiz story and you might not fancy Tuchel having to explain to film star Dyer - who so often plays a bad boy on screen - why he is not in the World Cup squad.
Bowen has been neck-and-neck with Madueke but surely now the West Ham captain, talisman and forward is pulling away.
Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between West Ham United and Brentford at the London Stadium in Stratford, England, on March 9, 2026. (Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Jarrod Bowen is inspiring West Ham in their fight for survival(Image: Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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England Player Ratings This Week
There are just two months to go until England boss Thomas Tuchel has to pick his final England squad for this summer’s World Cup - and he has huge competition in almost every position.
Some of the best players in the Premier League and Europe are vying for the same spots as the countdown to the 2026 tournament hots up, while others have ground to make up before the season ends.
Here, John Cross gives his latest verdict on the players he saw covering his game - Manchester City’s win at Chelsea - last weekend and the squad overall.
CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER CITY
Cole Palmer
He actually looked quite sharp and in the mood against Manchester City. He looked better physically and made things happen. When you look at the result, it is easy to assume that everyone played badly. But Palmer was good in the first half.
Mixed. It feels like he is coming back after missing a lot of football but is getting better, fitter and stronger. His form is gradually returning.
Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers look nailed-on. The question is who else goes. And in a straight shoot-out between him and Phil Foden, it looks like Palmer is ahead.
Marc Guehi
Another cool performance which resonates across the whole Manchester City defence. His January signing has been transformative for City and he even got on the score sheet this time.
Looks terrific. Honestly, you can make a case for him as Footballer of the Year. If City win the Treble - then he will have played a huge part.
A nailed-on starter. He is so calm, composed and reassuring at the back for England. Top quality.
Marc Guehi was in the thick of the Manchester City celebrations against his former club Chelsea
Marc Guehi was outstanding as City dominated and picked off Chelsea(Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP)
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Nico O’Reilly
Scored again - that is six goals in 11 games and assists galore - and it was another big goal at Chelsea. He thrives on the big stage and that speaks to him being a big game player with a great mentality.
He is in sensational form. If you were judging the Footballer of the Year on the second half of the season then he would be in the running. He is strong physically and good technically.
Nailed-on for the squad and is streaking ahead of Lewis Hall in the battle to be the starter at left back.
Phil Foden
Yet another all too brief performance from the bench. This time on for Rayan Cherki and is just not getting enough minutes to show his true quality.
Is just not getting time to shine. No-one doubts his talent or quality - but will take a big change in fortune to get in.
It could come down to a shoot-out between Foden and Cole Palmer for the third No10 role… and Palmer is ahead.
England Player Ratings - Their chances of making the plane
Jordan Pickford 10
Dean Henderson 9
James Trafford 8
Aaron Ramsdale 6
Jason Steele 6
Marc Guéhi 9
Ezri Konsa 9
John Stones 8
Dan Burn 7
Trevoh Chalobah 6
Harry Maguire 6
Jarell Quansah 6
Fikayo Tomori 4
Reece James 8
Tino Livramento 8
Ben White 5
Nico O’Reilly 9
Lewis Hall 8
Djed Spence 6
Declan Rice 9
Elliot Anderson 9
Jordan Henderson 7
Kobbie Mainoo 7
James Garner 7
Adam Wharton 6
Alex Scott 5
Morgan Rogers 9
Jude Bellingham 9
Cole Palmer 6
Eberechi Eze 6
Phil Foden 5
Bukayo Saka 8
Jarrod Bowen 8
Noni Madueke 6
Marcus Rashford 8
Anthony Gordon 8
Harry Kane 10
Ollie Watkins 7
Dominic Calvert-Lewin 6
Dominic Solanke 6
Danny Welbeck 6
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MY SQUAD
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